How is an aortic aneurysm diagnosed? continued...

At least 60 years old and have a first-degree relative (for
example, father or brother) who has had an aneurysm.2

These men are more likely to have an aneurysm than are
women or nonsmoking men.

Experts recommend screening tests for a thoracic aneurysm for anyone who has a close relative who has had a thoracic aortic aneurysm.3

If your doctor thinks you have an
aneurysm, you may have tests such as an
ultrasound, a
CT scan, or an
MRI to find out where it is and how big it is.

How is it treated?

Treatment of an aortic aneurysm
is based on how big it is and how fast it is growing. If you have a large or
fast-growing aneurysm, you need surgery to fix it. A doctor will
repair the damaged part of the blood vessel during open surgery or a minimally invasive procedure.

Small aneurysms rarely rupture and
are usually treated with high blood pressure medicine, such as
beta-blockers. This medicine helps to lower blood
pressure and stress on the aortic wall. If you don't have a repair surgery or procedure, you will
have routine
ultrasound tests to see if the aneurysm is getting
bigger.

This information is produced and provided by the National
Cancer
Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National
Cancer
Institute via the Internet web site at http://
cancer
.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated:
January 14, 2014

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this
information.